PSU statement: “Increased concerns regarding unrecognized fraternities”

[BobPSU92]

See the link below. From the article:

”Penn State learned at the end of last week about the formation of an independent interfraternity council, which seeks to operate outside the oversight of the University and the Interfraternity Council (IFC). It is important to note that the three organizations — Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, and Tau Kappa Epsilon — creating this rogue council have been operating without University recognition. Two of these groups were suspended by the University — one of the strongest disciplinary actions we possess — due to their documented dangerous behavior. The remaining group preemptively elected to remove themselves from University recognition. Now, with the creation of an independent council, these same groups are purportedly going to provide their own oversight. In reality, this means the risks to their members and other students who engage with these organizations will continue, particularly around hazing and alcohol abuse.

The University finds this move deeply concerning. We strongly discourage any student from affiliating with these unrecognized organizations and urge all students to avoid events hosted by these groups. With no University oversight, they have a greater potential to threaten the well-being of those who participate in their events.”

Increased concerns regarding unrecognized fraternities | Penn State University

Penn State strongly discourages any student from affiliating with the unrecognized organizations and urges all students to avoid events hosted by these groups. With no University oversight, they have a greater potential to threaten the well-being of those who participate in their events.

www.psu.edu

How big a concern is this?

 

[Catch1lion]

Beta omicron Beta has yet to check in . IFC was limiting caffeine intake .

 

[Nittering Nabob]

Tau Iota Tau Sigma might be operating on the periphery of the PSU Panhellenic Council.

 

[SleepyLion]

See the link below. From the article:

”Penn State learned at the end of last week about the formation of an independent interfraternity council, which seeks to operate outside the oversight of the University and the Interfraternity Council (IFC). It is important to note that the three organizations — Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, and Tau Kappa Epsilon — creating this rogue council have been operating without University recognition. Two of these groups were suspended by the University — one of the strongest disciplinary actions we possess — due to their documented dangerous behavior. The remaining group preemptively elected to remove themselves from University recognition. Now, with the creation of an independent council, these same groups are purportedly going to provide their own oversight. In reality, this means the risks to their members and other students who engage with these organizations will continue, particularly around hazing and alcohol abuse.

The University finds this move deeply concerning. We strongly discourage any student from affiliating with these unrecognized organizations and urge all students to avoid events hosted by these groups. With no University oversight, they have a greater potential to threaten the well-being of those who participate in their events.”

Increased concerns regarding unrecognized fraternities | Penn State University

Penn State strongly discourages any student from affiliating with the unrecognized organizations and urges all students to avoid events hosted by these groups. With no University oversight, they have a greater potential to threaten the well-being of those who participate in their events.

www.psu.edu

How big a concern is this?

I find it somewhat humorous.
If a student wanted to join The Lions Club, Rotary, etc. would the university warn them about joining unrecognized student organizations? Okay so maybe these are not student organizations...
So, if these fraternities allowed members that were not students that would be okay.

 

[NittPicker]

They'll simply be off campus boarding houses which call themselves fraternities but with no official university recognition or affiliation. There's not much the university can do about it other than issue public condemnation. Legally, the university should have no concerns. Setting up such a house may violate some ordinances depending on the borough code.

But really, they're just party houses which don't want to be under the thumb of the university. Legit greek organizations at least practice the ideals of philanthropy and service in addition to the social activities. I'm sure the breakaway groups will be barred from any and all campus activities, THON included.

 

[rigi19040]

They'll simply be off campus boarding houses which call themselves fraternities but with no official university recognition or affiliation. There's not much the university can do about it other than issue public condemnation. Legally, the university should have no concerns. Setting up such a house may violate some ordinances depending on the borough code.

But really, they're just party houses which don't want to be under the thumb of the university. Legit greek organizations at least practice the ideals of philanthropy and service in addition to the social activities. I'm sure the breakaway groups will be barred from any and all campus activities, THON included.

University recognition is worthless. University offers nothing and they have little to take away, which is why underground organizations are able to exist.

Let's not forget Tim Piazza was part of a RECOGNIZED organization. The unrecognized organizations have had zero deaths. The largest lawsuit involving the university was the result of a former university employee.

The Alternate Fraternity Council no longer recognized the University because of their LONG history of violations.

 

[NittPicker]

University recognition is worthless. University offers nothing and they have little to take away, which is why underground organizations are able to exist.

Let's not forget Tim Piazza was part of a RECOGNIZED organization. The unrecognized organizations have had zero deaths. The largest lawsuit involving the university was the result of a former university employee.

The Alternate Fraternity Council no longer recognized the University because of their LONG history of violations.

I'm not debating what the university may or may not offer. However, students have died off campus and there's no way to know what underground organizations they may have been a part of. That's why they're called "underground". And the Sandusky reference is totally irrelevant to the OP.

 

[Erial_Lion]

University recognition is worthless. University offers nothing and they have little to take away, which is why underground organizations are able to exist.

University recognition allows the opportunity to participate in THON, participate in Greek Intermural sports, participate in recruitment fairs, etc. Sure seems to be far from "worthless".

 

[Big_O]

I belonged to Gamma Delta Iota during my Penn State years.

 

[BobPSU92]

University recognition allows the opportunity to participate in THON, participate in Greek Intermural sports, participate in recruitment fairs, etc. Sure seems to be far from "worthless".

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

University recognition is worthless. University offers nothing and they have little to take away, which is why underground organizations are able to exist.

Let's not forget Tim Piazza was part of a RECOGNIZED organization. The unrecognized organizations have had zero deaths. The largest lawsuit involving the university was the result of a former university employee.

The Alternate Fraternity Council no longer recognized the University because of their LONG history of violations.

The Piazza thing has always intrigued me. Admittedly I was never part of Greek life, and I don’t condone the inaction of others that night. But Piazza was an adult and capable of making his own decisions…..including the decision to stop drinking.

 

[rigi19040]

I'm not debating what the university may or may not offer. However, students have died off campus and there's no way to know what underground organizations they may have been a part of. That's why they're called "underground". And the Sandusky reference is totally irrelevant to the OP.

Students have died on campus. Tim piazza was joining an on campus organization.

The Sandusky reference is relevant when the school is promoting risk management and safety yet they pass policies that only apply to Greeks.

 

[rigi19040]

University recognition allows the opportunity to participate in THON, participate in Greek Intermural sports, participate in recruitment fairs, etc. Sure seems to be far from "worthless".

Unrecognized fraternities still recruit and they actually have less restrictions. All the university Greek policies no longer apply to unrecognized orgs.. Unrecognized organizations can invite anyone to pledge regardless of gpa or credits.

Are Greeks the only orgs that participate in thon?

Unrecognized Greeks lose IFC sports. Whatever. They can play intramurals and it gives them an opportunity to recruit non Greeks.

Unrecognized Greeks can still use campus facilities. They are all still students.

Another way to use campus facilities as a recognized organization is to simply annex any of the hundreds of defunct clubs.

 

[rigi19040]

The Piazza thing has always intrigued me. Admittedly I was never part of Greek life, and I don’t condone the inaction of others that night. But Piazza was an adult and capable of making his own decisions…..including the decision to stop drinking.

The really dumb part was the hard alcohol. When kids die from drinking it is almost always hard alcohol. Stick with beer.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Are Greeks the only orgs that participate in thon?

No, but how many organizations participating in THON aren’t recognized by the University? I’d take the under on 0.5.

 

[Vermilion]

The Piazza thing has always intrigued me. Admittedly I was never part of Greek life, and I don’t condone the inaction of others that night. But Piazza was an adult and capable of making his own decisions…..including the decision to stop drinking.

Hello Pennsy, you probably don't even know half the story. The media (as usual) only told their side of the story that helps PSU and our Governor, who was AG at the time.........very sad all the way around.

 

[WestSideLion]

University recognition allows the opportunity to participate in THON, participate in Greek Intermural sports, participate in recruitment fairs, etc. Sure seems to be far from "worthless".

That will change with time. The current system has sucked for decades and essentially pushed these fraternities to this point.

Keep in mind that I’m not saying the tragic Piazza situation had a place in Greek life at PSU. But that was a sanctioned IFC organization where tragedy struck. It wasn’t an unofficial event like PSU wants to portray with that toothless warning.

But a system where PSU simply takes away the fun over two decades and does nothing but penalize kids who try to have fun isn’t a system worth preserving.

Kids should not have carte blanche like some of you hooligans did in the 80s (I kid!), but the pendulum needs to come back toward the middle.

A breakaway alternative Greek council (by all reports part of a bigger national movement and sanctioned by each fraternity’s national body) may be a step in that direction.

 

[rigi19040]

No, but how many organizations participating in THON aren’t recognized by the University? I’d take the under on 0.5.

You would probably lose that bet and will definitely lose that bet going forward.

Do you think students from unrecognized fraternities are ONLY in one organization?

The point that you are missing is the students in an unrecognized organizations are already in multiple other recognized organizations. They can simply use other existing recognized organizations as a front to participate in all campus events.

THON had 400+ organizations participate. PSU might have 1000+ recognized clubs. There are probably a couple hundred defunct clubs. Unrecognized Greeks just have to take their pick of a dormant club and take it over. There are many clubs that actually have Greek letters. I would find a club with similar letters and take it over.

 

[rigi19040]

That will change with time. The current system has sucked for decades and essentially pushed these fraternities to this point.

Keep in mind that I’m not saying the tragic Piazza situation had a place in Greek life at PSU. But that was a sanctioned IFC organization where tragedy struck. It wasn’t an unofficial event like PSU wants to portray with that toothless warning.

But a system where PSU simply takes away the fun over two decades and does nothing but penalize kids who try to have fun isn’t a system worth preserving.

Kids should not have carte blanche like some of you hooligans did in the 80s (I kid!), but the pendulum needs to come back toward the middle.

A breakaway alternative Greek council (by all reports part of a bigger national movement and sanctioned by each fraternity’s national body) may be a step in that direction.

Unrecognized orgs can annex existing recognized clubs and then participate in all campus events. All they have to do is find one of the hundreds of defunct clubs and then fill out some paperwork.

The schools created this situation by having a different set of rules that only applies to Greeks. Many fraternities that are in probation had violations that are so trivial that their members are all still in school. When the members are all still in school they will continue to use campus facilities and participate in events that they already paid for.